reasting the side of a deep ascent,
from the summit of which my guide told me, I should behold the sea--the
sea, not only the great plain on which I expected to see our armament,
but the link which bound me to my country! Suddenly, just as I turned
the angle of a cliff, it burst upon my sight--one vast mirror of golden
splendor--appearing almost at my feet! In the yellow gleams of a setting
sun, long columns of azure-colored light streaked its calm surface, and
tinged the atmosphere with a warm and rosy hue. While I was lost in
admiration of the picture, I heard the sound of voices close beneath me,
and, on looking down, saw two figures who, with telescopes in hand, were
steadily gazing on a little bay that extended toward the west.

At first, my attention was more occupied by the strangers than by the
object of their curiosity, and I remarked that they were dressed and
equipped like sportsmen, their guns and game-bags lying against the rock
behind them.

"Do you still think that they are hovering about the coast, Tom?" said
the elder of the two, "or are you not convinced, at last, that I am
right?"

"I believe you are," replied the other; "but it certainly did not look
like it yesterday evening, with their boats rowing ashore every half
hour, signals flying, and blue lights burning; all seemed to threaten a
landing."

"If they ever thought of it, they soon changed their minds," said the
former. "The defeat of their comrades in the west, and the apathy of the
peasantry here, would have cooled down warmer ardor than theirs. There
they go, Tom. I only hope that they'll fall in with Warren's squadron,
and French insolence receive at sea the lesson we failed to give them on
land."

"Not so," rejoined the younger; "Humbert's capitulation, and the total
break-up of the expedition ought to satisfy even your patriotism."

"It fell far short of it, then!" cried the other. "I'd never have
treated those fellows other than as bandits and freebooters. I'd have
hanged them as highwaymen. There was less war than rapine; but what
could you expect? I have been assured that Humbert's force consisted of
little other than liberated felons and galley slaves--the refuse of the
worst population of Europe!"

Distracted with the terrible tidings I had overheard--overwhelmed with
the sight of the ships, now glistening like bright specks on the verge
of the horizon, I forgot my own position--my safety--every thing but the
insult thus cas